Happy Birthday Nay2Nay!

Part I of our series dubbed "catching up because apparently it's November not September"...

Last weekend of September we traveled to SoBoVa to celebrate Nay-nay's 60th birthday. Clara was very excited not only to see her (great-) grandparents & Aunt Betts but because she knew the occasion would call for cake!

We started off with a trip to downtown South Boston to check out the fall festival followed by a delicious O Sole' Mio's lunch!




After nap time we busted out the pool for what turned out to be our last really hot day of the season. Of course no trip to Memo's is complete without a visit to her make-up drawer for quick makeover!








Clara splashing around in the pool.


Taking a brief rest.


Once Jack woke up, he didn't waste any time wrecking shop in Augs' garden.


Checking out the vegetation.


Next was his turn to make a splash.


All done and naked!


Sisters!


Cheers to the birthday lady.


Stuffed with delicious birthday cake, cuddling with b-day Nay-nay.


Sunday morning we went to the neighborhood park.


Jack's Graceland... a giant piece of spinning equipment.


The nice thing about small towns with budgets smaller than big city parks and recreation depts. is that there remain some old classic pieces of playground equipment. I am positive this is the same slide that I played on at this park when I was a child and Nay-nay had the same feeling as well. We all took a turn on it because really when do you see a slide like this anymore?

Sliding with Nay-nay & sliding with Pop-pop - you decide who looks more fun.




Lastly rounding up the weekend with some snuggle time with Memo. He loves the glasses, rings, and necklaces.


Another day, another make-over.




Happy Birthday Nay-nay! Here's the next 60. :)

Happy Halloween!

Tonight we celebrated Halloween by taking the kids trick-or-treating down our street and in our neighborhood. Many of our immediate neighbors were excited to have the first trick-or-treaters in several years. Clara dressed as a princess and Jack a giraffe. Both kids walked most of the route despite the fact that we had the stroller. Anything for free candy!

Our jack-o-lantern!




Princess Clara


Only way Jeekers could be corralled for a picture was to be roped in by Daddy.

NC State Fair

Today marked the end of the NC State Fair for 2010. We attended it on Tuesday and had a really nice time with the kids exploring all the good things our state has to offer. We started off in the animal area. There the kids got to see many different mother/calf breed combinations. Clara was particularly excited about noticing all the poop. We also saw chicks & ducklings, lambs, turkeys, and a sow and her piglets. We also ran into our friends, the Divincenzos. Here Clara and Carmen are looking at the baby chicks and ducks.



Jack checking them out.


After the animals we decided it was time to start eating! Clara still remembered her twisty cone from last year and wanted a repeat.


Jack enjoyed sharing some of my delicious ribbon fries.


Out of the stroller to check out the water fall wall with Daddy.


Snacking on some kettle corn.


We went on our first ride this year, the carousel!


Of course after it started Clara decided she was too scared to ride on the horse, so we moved to the sleigh seat. I have to say it was a bit more nauseating that I remember. Of course it could have been the corn dog I'd just eaten. ;)


Last place we visited was the petting zoo. Both kids got a kick out of feeding the goats, llamas, and camels carrots.

Emerald Isle, 2010 Part Deux

No excuses, I'm the worst, I know. But... we're back - ready to talk about first week of September beach trip to Emerald Isle.

We had a really great week at the beach. Most of our time was spent outside on the beach enjoying the gorgeous September weather of clear skies and slightly cooler temperatures (mid-80's). With the exception of one morning trip to Fort Macon, the kids were playing in the sand and surf. Both were more at home with the ocean this second week; Jack as you'll see was downright kamikaze.

At Fort Macon.






In the ocean - there was a nice tidal pool and sand bar that appeared at low tide in which the kids had a blast playing.










On shore














At the cottage - sunrise






Jack runs to the sea


Clara swimming



Clara spinning


Clara jumps "off the steps".